Taking to the coast
It was only a matter of time until the World Rowing Coastal Championships for clubs returned
to Italy, as there is no doubt it is one of the homes of coastal rowing. This time, it is the city of
Bari, in the Bari region, that will be welcoming top coastal rowers from around the world.
continued to grow. Last year the event was held in
Istanbul, Turkey and French clubs dominated the results.
There were also strong showings from Italy, Great Britain
and Spain
Bari is on the South-East coast of Italy. The Adriatic
Sea will be the racing waters and the regatta course will
be right in the heart of the town, following the beach.
Spectators will be able to watch the races from the
waterfront. There are three boat categories in coastal
rowing: the single, double and coxed quad. The six-
kilometre course has no lanes and competitors race
around buoyed waypoints forming a triangular course.
Bari include the opera house, Petruzzelli Theatre as
well as the Swabian castle.
Unlike Olympic-style flat-water rowing, coastal rowers
relish the extra challenge of currents, waves, tides
and rough water. The FISA standardised boats are
especially designed to handle coastal conditions in
which all competitors race.
The regatta will be held from 21 to 23 October 2011
and temperatures at that time of year average around
20 degrees Celsius. Water conditions are likely to be
relatively easy in a coastal rowing sense with even seas.
● M.S.B.
Close to the waterfront is the Basilica of Saint Nicholas
which dates back to the 11th century. Other sights in
In 2007 the Coastal Rowing Challenge was upgraded
to a championship event and, with that, support has
